The Chocolate War Chapter 30 Summary

Excitement is high, and the guys are coming strait to Brian Cochran with the cash from the chocolate sales. So, Brother Leon doesn't really need to ask for numbers during roll call anymore, but he still does, and he enjoys it way too much, stretching it out for as long as he can.

Of course, the reports are pretty fake. Guys who didn't sell a single box were singled out for praise. The Goober knows, "The sales have all been made by teams of fellows who [go] out every afternoon" (30.3).

The Goober definitely isn't selling; he stopped to show Jerry he feels for him. Before he stopped, he sold 27 boxes.

Leon is almost to Jerry's name. The tension is killing the Goober.

Leon gleefully calls Jerry's name. Jerry's "No," the Goober observes, is "clear and forceful, ringing with a triumph of its own" (30.13).

The Goober wonders if Jerry and Leon can both get what they want, without things coming to a head. Soon, the last box of chocolates will be sold, and maybe everybody will just forget about this chocolate thing.

After Jerry says his no, a kid named Harold Darcy asks Brother Leon if he can ask something. Leon looks irritated, but lets Darcy go ahead.

Leon isn't sure about this, and asks Darcy what his motivation is. Darcy says he and the other people who are working hard selling have "a right" (30.23) to the information.

Leon is warming to the topic, and he fields the question to Jerry.

Jerry says, "It's a free country" (30.25).

Leon doesn't find Jerry's answer sufficient.

The Goober is getting really nervous. Usually, nobody in class seems to care whether Jerry sells chocolates or not, but today he can feel the "hostility" (30.27) building up in the room.

Jerry begins expanding on his answer, with a question of his own, "Did you say the sale was voluntary, Brother Leon?" (30.28).

Leon says he did say that, and Jerry claims that that's his reason for not selling.

The Goober can feel the "ripple of resentment" in the air. The kids begin taunting Jerry, asking him why he thinks he's so special. But Jerry hold his ground, maintains his position.

The Goober wishes Jerry was a little more flexible.

After the bell rings, The Goober watched Harold Darcy and some other kids stare menacingly at Jerry as Jerry walks away.

Toward the end of the school day, The Goober hears loud noises coming from the direction of the assembly hall. Some fifty students are rallying around Brian Cochran who is writing in the new sales figures on the Leon's boards.

The Goober sees Brian write the number fifty beside the name "Roland Goubert" (30.40).

At first he doesn't recognize the name, but then realizes it's his own!

Argh. He can't believe this. He had only sold 27, just 27.

Then he decides to just back off. Demanding that they set the record straight will only get him hurt.

As he walks to his locker he tries to shut down his feelings of guilt and shame, to shut down the feelings that he has betrayed Jerry and himself.